Overview
The Green Springs and North Ashland interchange bridges are slated for repair and/or replacement in 2009 as part of the Oregon Transportation Investment Act (OTIA) statewide bridge upgrade and replacement program. To protect this public investment of millions of dollars in the bridges ODOT, in conjunction with the City of Ashland and Jackson County, is preparing Interchange Area Management Plans.
What is an IAMP?
Interchange Area Management Plans coordinate current and future land uses and transportation improvements to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods to, through, from, and within the area. This is done by analyzing current land uses and traffic conditions, and future land uses and traffic conditions. Based on the results of the analysis, the study may recommend changes to allowable land uses near the interchange, or changes to the local street network and nearby intersections.
What Goes Into an Interchange Area Management Plan
An Interchange Area Management Plan is divided into six Technical Memos. Technical Memos build on each other in a logical way, with objectives and analysis at the beginning and recommendations at the end.

The six Technical Memos:

Definition and Background - states the reasons and context for preparing the plan, and establishes the baseline assumptions by which to manage the interchanges. The problem statement, goals and objectives, and interchange function statements serve as evaluation criteria for later decisions.

Review of Adopted Plans and Regulations - determines the relationship of existing policies to the existing problems and, ultimately, to potential management alternatives and strategies. The identification of these relationships is crucial to make findings of compliance and compatibility with state and local policies and regulations, and to identify whether and where amendments may be needed to implement the plan

Summary of Existing Conditions - summarizes existing traffic conditions. This Technical Memo serves as a baseline for the plan.

Evaluation of Potential Management Actions and Land Use Policies - assessment of how best to protect the future function of the interchange and meet the goals and objectives outlined in Technical Memo 1. Potential management actions may, but do not necessarily have, to include: lane striping; new/different signs; trip allocation ordinances; overlay zones; integration of multi-modal facilities; ramp metering; improvements to nearby intersections; medians; and others.

Access Management Strategy and Plan - examines the location of driveways and streets on the nearby street network, and whether those driveways and streets should be moved, changed, or consolidated. A Strategy is for those changes that will take place during construction, while a Plan is for changes to be made in the future.

Once completed, the six Technical Memos are put together to make the Draft Interchange Area Management Plan. After review, the Draft is made into a Final Interchange Area Management Plan.
How the Process Works
David Evans and Associates, a consulting firm from Portland, has been hired by ODOT to draft the Technical Memos. Technical Memos are drafted two at a time, brought before two committees for review and comment, then revised.

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) provides the community a voice in the process, and is one of two committees reviewing the draft Technical Memos. The Committee was largely put together by Ashland, and includes representatives of small business, residents, freight, and the disabled community, among others. The Committee brings a wealth of personal experience to the process, from people who use the interchange and nearby roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes on a daily basis. Meetings are held regularly, usually on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, at the Community Center across from Lithia Park.

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) brings technical expertise from a variety of fields together, and is the second committee reviewing Technical Memos. It is composed of staff from Ashland, Talent, Jackson County, Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, ODOT, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Federal Highway Administration, and Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners. Comments from the CAC are considered from a technical point of view, and incorporated with the comments from the TAC.

Upon receiving CAC and TAC comments the consultants prepare "revised" Technical Memos, which are brought to the committees at a later meeting. If no further changes are needed, the Technical Memos become "final".

At two points during the planning process, the consultant and ODOT make presentations to the City Council of Ashland and the Board of Commissioners of Jackson County. This typically occurs sometime around completion of the third Technical Memo, and again after completion of the Draft Interchange Area Management Plan.

During review of the Draft Interchange Area Management Plan, Ashland and Jackson County are given an opportunity to make final comments. ODOT and the consultant will then either incorporate the comments into the plan or negotiate with Ashland and Jackson County. Once all parties are in agreement the Draft plan becomes Final, and the plan moves ahead to adoption.

Adoption is the process of making the plan part of the Comprehensive Plan and Transportation System Plan for Ashland and Jackson County, and Part of the Oregon Transportation Plan for the State of Oregon. Further, adoption may require amendments to Ashland and Jackson County ordinances, to implement the management guidelines and access management plan.
The project is then finished.
What's Been Done So Far
The first three Technical Memos have been completed, and the first two Technical Memos have been finalized. The fourth Technical Memo (Impacts Assessment - Future Conditions) is currently under development and will be discussed at the July CAC and TAC meetings.
Project Documents

August 2006 Traffic Analysis Report – A study conducted in 2006 which analyzed present and future traffic conditions at the interchanges. It formed some of the assumptions used in the current project. [Read Report]

Public Involvement
Public involvement is primarily through the Citizens Advisory Committee. However, there are a variety of other Public Involvement opportunities for citizens.

To ensure the community at large an opportunity to be heard, two Public Workshops will be scheduled. The first is scheduled to occur Thursday, August 16th, while the second is tentatively scheduled to occur in December. During the Public Workshop, citizens will be given the opportunity to review the work completed to date, ask questions of the consultants and staff, and provide written comments on the plan. Written comments will be collected and made part of the plan as an appendix.

This web page provides information and education to the public, and will be updated regularly.

ODOT hosts a monthly hour-long show on Rogue Valley Television (www.roguetv.org). The July show will feature news on this project. A future show will also feature information on the project.

John McDonald, the Project Manager, is available to discuss the project by phone, email, or in person, to individuals, neighbors, or groups.